As you can clearly see the top of the keyboard is done up in a nice matte-white scheme while the bottom painted bright lime green. The keys are also labeled with the same lime color.

So how do I like the black one? Well, I’m glad you asked. So far the only issue I have with it is that the shift key seems to stick or I’m just typing wrong. For example, when I type a capitalized word, the first two letters get capitalized. LIke this. ANd this. OR this. Maybe I’m doing it wrong, but I’ve never had this issue with other keyboard and I’m really not a fast typer – maybe 80 wpm when I’m cruising.

Other than than that, I love the form factor and am learning to deal with the capitalization thing because of how nice the small footprint works on my desk. The keyboard also has really sticky rubber feet that cause it to grip to my desk like no other keyboard has. It simple doesn’t move when I’m typing and that’s surprising seeing as it doesn’t weigh much more than my Droid.

So yeah, I would totally recommend this thing for both the serious and causal user. It has great tactical feedback, an ergonomic-enough design, and a tiny footprint. I even like it better than Apple’s small wireless keyboard. (look for a full comparison soon) Now you have your choice between black on black and lime on white. Nice.

By Chris Scott Barr

With the rise of instant messengers, we saw a rise in the use of acronyms. I remember the old days of chatting on ICQ and learning simple ones like ‘lol’ and ‘afk’. These days I still use a few when chatting or texting, but not nearly as much as the current school-age generation. Not only does half of a conversation consist of acronyms, but now they don’t even have to bother typing all of those out. Now there’s a keyboard that will spew out 3 or 4 meaningful characters (in caps no less!) with the push of a single button. I give you proof that the current generation is doomed: the Fast Finger Keyboard.

If you thought that 12 function keys that are dedicated to acronyms was bad, you’re in for a real treat. The standard QWERTY layout has been tossed in the back seat so that children don’t get confused. Instead, all of the letters are lined up alphabetically. They’ve even added in a “www” key (because apprently no one told them that you don’t need to type that on every address) and a second “@” over on the tilde key. If only they’d thought to toss in dedicated question mark and exclamation point keys, your child would never have to mess with the pesky shift key again!

If you want your child to fail at life, just hook up this keyboard in their bedroom. They’ll soon learn to hunt-and-peck at a rapid pace, only to find that every other keyboard in the world is different. Seriously, any parent that buys this should be beaten with it. $23 is far too much to pay for a product that will only enforce bad habits.

PS. For extra fail, check out their website. It features an informative 10-second YouTube video that simply says “Coming Soon.” Their “Blog” section is also wonderful.

[ Fast Finger Keyboard ] VIA [ Kotaku ]

People at work know you even though they haven’t met you. “Oh, Carl? Yeah, the keyboard guy. Dude LOVES keyboards. Won’t shut up about them. I heard he’s crazy. Like, Judo crazy. Like, don’t say anything bad about keyboards or he’ll put you in some weird Judo hold.”

If that sounds like you, Carl, then get $14 ready.

Actually, sorry, you’ll need $56 – please don’t put me in a Judo hold! That’s because there are four USB keyboard lights, each with a different whimsical keyboard key adorning the top. And being that everyone at work knows you as The Keyboard Guy, for you to not buy all four would arouse suspicion in everyone at work from Accounting to Zoology.

All your favorites are here: Del, Esc, Ctrl, and Shift. The Shift key even has the little arrow!!! The lights are powered via USB and a simple downward press illuminates the built-in LED bulb.

USB Keypress Light [USB Geek]

Sony’s first official netbook, the VAIO W, has been poked and prodded by Darren Gladstone over at PC World. You’ll recall that the $499 machine features pretty standard netbook components, with the added bonus of the slightly-faster 1.66GHz Atom N280 CPU and a 10-inch 1366×768 resolution screen. Let’s check out the highlights and lowlights, shall we?

Good:

The screen is the biggest selling point of this machine — great color, very little glare, and, of course, a usable resolution make the VAIO W’s relatively high price sting a little less. The bumped-up processor apparently makes for some nice, smooth 720p video as well.

On the outside, the computer’s nice aesthetics, above-average build quality, and 2.6-pound weight make it easy to schlep around. The textured touchpad is a nice addition, too, and having draft-N wireless along with Bluetooth included as standard options is a plus.

Bad:

The keyboard leaves a bit to be desired, as the island keys present a pretty cramped typing experience. Also, the three-hour battery life is nothing to write home about. And that’s three hours according to Sony, mind you. Finally, the touchpad buttons “feel a little shallow.”

Without personally playing with the W myself, I think the high-resolution screen is a definite plus but the anemic battery life would be a show-stopper for me. The keyboard might get easier with time, but Sony’s tendency to use a tiny right shift key has always left me scratching my head. And if Sony would lop $50 or $100 off the price tag, things might get a bit more interesting. That, or offer a standard six-cell battery.

Sony Vaio W Series Laptop Review [PC World]

When Sony launched the VAIO P, the company kept insisting it wasn’t a netbook. Perhaps this is why: Sony has a netbook coming next month.

An honest netbook, too, with an Atom CPU, Windows XP, and a maxed-out 160GB hard drive. Curiously, Sony appears to have been able to sidestep the “no screen resolution over 1024×600 when using an N-series Atom CPU” rule by offering a nice 1366×768 widescreen display.

And while the $500 price tag may appear a bit high compared to your standard netbook, I’d contend that the higher resolution screen, the island keyboard, and the nice-looking trackpad may be worth it for more than a few people. Though that tiny right shift key is going to rub some people the wrong way.

The Sony VAIO W Series will be available in three colors starting next month for around $500.

Full press release:

Sony DEBUTS HOT NEW Mini Notebook IN COOL NEW COLORS

VAIO W Series Ideal for Casual Computing and Staying Connected

SAN DIEGO, July 7, 2009 – Sony today took the wraps off its chic new line of mini notebooks- the VAIO® W Series.

Featuring an ultra-portable design, the W Series is perfect for using as a secondary PC, in any room of the house, for surfing the web, checking e-mail, and social networking.

The W model comes in three vibrant colors- berry pink, sugar white and cocoa brown. A more subtle shade of the exterior hue finishes the inside of the PC while the touchpad is lined with a splash of brightness.

“The W Series lets you quickly look something up online whether searching for a recipe in the kitchen or relaxing on your recliner- there’s no need to trudge upstairs to your office,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of the VAIO business group at Sony. “And it’s sturdy enough for the kids to use, making it perfect for every member of the family.”

The W Series incorporates a high-resolution, 1366 x 768, LED backlit 10.1-inch (measured diagonally) ultra-wide display, making it easy to view two full web pages- no side-to-side scrolling necessary.

The model features an isolated keyboard with springy and responsive keys making it comfortable and easy to use. Its carefully designed touchpad and mouse keys make the PC functional and mouse movements easy to control.

The W Series unit is ENERGY STAR® 5.0 compliant, EPEAT Gold registered and incorporates eco-conscious features such as a mercury-free LED backlit LCD. Its corrugated cardboard packaging is comprised of 95 percent recycled content. Sony will also help recycle your old PC (www.sony.com/green; recycling fees may apply).

The model comes with VAIO Media plus Multimedia Streaming software, a media sharing application that lets you wirelessly stream content across DLNA®-enabled devices throughout your home network. Stream video, music and pictures from your W Series to your compatible primary PC or PLAYSTATION®3 and vice-versa and enjoy your content anywhere in the home including on your big-screen TV.

Easily transfer data, such as photos from your digital camera or music from an MP3 player, to and from the PC with the unit’s two convenient USB ports. Incorporated Bluetooth® technology enables peripherals such as a wireless mouse to be utilized without tying up the unit’s ports.

A built-in webcam and microphone let you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party internet service provider is required.

A roomy 160GB hard drive has been included providing ample storage for all your photos, files and videos. It comes pre-installed with Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition operating system.

The VAIO W Series mini notebook will retail for about $500. It is available for pre-orders today online at www.sonystyle.com/pr/w. It will also be sold at Sony Style® stores and at other major retailers around the country starting next month.

via Gizmodo

The slow-but-steady introduction of ARM-based netbooks is going to be interesting to watch. The above video from NetbookNews.com shows a Pegatron-brand netbook running Xandros Linux on a Freescale platform with an 800MHz ARM CPU, all in a fanless, super slim body that the guy in the video, Sascha, estimates to weigh around 1.75 pounds (800 grams).

It’s somewhat more stripped down than most currently-available netbooks with just a 4GB solid state drive, the aforementioned 800MHz CPU, and two USB ports, but you do get a 3G connection and VGA output. And what you trade in features, you make up for in portability and battery life. The battery is estimated at about eight hours and the system is completely fanless.

The keyboard is apparently quite nice to type on, although one look at the misplaced, tiny right-hand Shift key would send me running. The whole setup is a preproduction unit so no word on pricing or availability yet, although these ARM-based netbooks all seem to be gunning for sub-$200 price points.

Pegatron Netbook Hands On [Netbook News via SlashGear]